Stalk-puller.



` No. 846,255. PATENTBD MAR. 5, 1907.

.0. R. SMITH.

- STALK PULLER. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2B, 19.

3 SHEETS-BEBT 1.

A TTOH/VEYS THE Ncmels Pez-:Rs ca., WASHINGTON, D. c.

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

G. R. SMITH. STALK PULLBR. 'APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1906.

` ATTORNEYS WITNESS/5S THE NoRRls PETER: co wAsHnvcroN. x-.v4 c,

No. 846,255. PATBNTED MAR. 5. 19.07.

`" c. R. SMITH.

STALK FULLER. APPL'IOATION FILED JULY 28, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

vlllllllll W/TNESSES 1HE Nokms PETERS ca., wAsHlNcraN. n. c.

CULLEN ROGERS SMITH, OF FENTRESS, TEXAS.

STALK-PULLER.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed July 28,1906. Serial No. 328.179.

To @il whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CULLEN ROGERS SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fentress, in the county of Caldwell and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Stalk-Puller, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a stalk-puller especially ladapted for pulling cotton-stalks from the ground, and the purpose of the invention is to provide a machine which will be compact, durable, and economic and by means of which a powerful and steady pull may be exerted on the stalks for the purpose of extracting the stalks and their roots from the ground and to improve upon the construction of pulling-machines for which Letters Patent were granted to me January 12, 1904, llo. 749,636, to the extent that the construction is much simplified and the machine is rendered more light without detracting from its strength, and wherein the grippers constitute links of endless chains having guided movement in independent casings, the opposing chains of grippers being in close and automatically-adjustable relation to each other throughout the full length of their inner leads.

Anotherv purpose ofthe invention is to provide pivoted supports for the gripper-casmgs on the axle of the machine and means for adjusting the casings so that the chain of grippers may be rendered effective upon very large or upon very small stalks and means for raising and lowering the forward ends of the casings to bring their shoes in more or less close relation to the ground.

It is also a purpose of the invention to carry the main drive-shaft, its clutches, and all of the operating-levers above the top of the casings, leaving their upper surfaces comparatively unobstructed, and also to provide an adjustable draft device which draws direct from the axle.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the opposing casings and the chains of grippers, illustrating the solid construction of grippers of one chain and the yielding construction of grippers of the opposing chain. Fig. 4 is an outer face view of one of the grippers and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the forward end portion of one of the casings, a sprocket-wheel for the chain of grippers carried by the casing, and an adjusting device for the said wheel.

In the construction of the machine two parallel casings A and A are employed, which casings are tubular and are rectangular in cross-section and of any desired length, each casing terminating at its forward end in a pointed shoe B, which shoe is provided with a rearwardly-extending horizontal member 10, that rests upon the ground when the casings are in their lowest position, as is shown in Fig. 1.

Each casing A and A is of the same co-n struction and consists of a top member 1l, which is supported upon the flanges 12 of a series of arched center pieces 13. The top 11 of a casing is provided at its inner longitudinal edge with a downwardly-extending ilange 14, and a corresponding flange 15 is provided outwardly from the flange 1,4, forming a guide-channel 16 for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned. A longitudinal angular bracket 18 is secured to the inner lower longitudinal surfaces of the lcenter pieces 13, and said bracket 1S supports a horizontal channel-bar 19, in which bar a series of frictionrollers 2O are horizontally mounted to turn freely, and below the said bracket 18 a second angular bracket 21 is secured, and a second series of vertically-disposed frictionrollers 23 is pivoted to the lower vertical member of the said second bracket 21, as is shown in Fig. 3. The friction-rollers 23 are slightly in advance of the horizontal frictionrollers 20, and their purpose will be hereinafter particularly referred to.

Alongitudinal bracket 24 is secured to the lower outer longitudinal edges of the center pieces 13, and said bracket 24 is provided with an upwardly-extending flange 22, and each bracket 24 carries an auxiliary bracket 21a, and each latter bracket carries a frictionroller 23a, which are immediately opposite the rollers 23 and are for the same purpose. An angle-bracket 17 issecured to the top plate 11 at its outer edge, extending substantially the length thereof, and the vertical or downwardly-extending member of the bracket 17 is within the plane of the up- IlO wardly-extending member 22 of the lower outer bracket 24, as is also shown in Fig. 3. Thus it will be observed that a longitudinal space 25 is provided between the inner flange 14 of a casing and its bottom bracket 21, and a corresponding space 26 is provided between the downwardly-extending member of the outer bracket 17 and the upwardlyextending member 22 of the lower outer bracket 24, as also shown in Fig. 3.

At the forward end of a easing, within the saine and adjacent to the shoe B of the casing, a sprocket-wheel 27 is horizontally located, being mounted to turn on a shaft 28, which shaft is secured in a box-bearing 29, slidably mounted in the casing, as is shown in Fig. 5. This box-bearing 29 is adjusted by means of a screw 32, having bearing against its rear end, and the said screw is carried by a second box-casing 30, in which the bearing 29, carrying the sprocket-wheel, has sliding movement. The box-casing 3() is secured to the main casing, in which it is contained, by means of rivets or bolts 31 or the equivalents thereof.

A second sprocket-wheel 33 is mounted in the rear end of each casing, the rear sprocketwheel of a casing corresponding to and being in alinement with the forward sprocketwheel 27, and the rear sprocket-wheel 33 in each casing is secured to a shaft 34, and these shafts 34, carrying the rear sprocketwheels of the casing, extend some distance vertically upward, as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, in the construction of each casing a rear closing member 341L is provided.

Each casing carries an endless chain of grippers. The grippers of the casing A are designated as C and are yielding, whereas the corresponding grippers C in the chain carried by the casing Al are unyielding and are practically solid.

In the construction of both series of grippers a box-body 35 is provided for them, having a straight inner face, and the lower inner portions of the box-bodies 35 bear against the horizontal friction-rollers 20. The gripping members of the grippers extend out from the body-casings, whose outer faces are inclined, preferably, from the top downward and inward, and said gripping members 38 of the gripp ers are provided with teeth 40, and at the inner leads of the chains of grippers the toothed portions 4() of the gripping members 38 are more or less concaved, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The gripping members 38 of the grippers in the chain carried by the casing A are integral with or are firmly attached to their body-casings 35, whereas the bodycasings of the chain of grippers carried by the casing A are provided with a chamber 39, open at the front and closed at the rear by a straight back section 35a, and at the upper front portion of the chambered body-sections of the grippers a downwardlyextending flange 36 is formed and at the bottom a forwardly-extending flange 37 is provided.

1n each gripping member 38 of the yielding chain of grippers carried by the casing A a recess 41 is provided at its back, and a spring 42 has bearing against the recessed portion of said gripping members and against the back 35l of their body-casings, as is shown at the left in Fig. 3.

Each of the spring-controlled or yielding gripping members 38 is provided with an upwardly-extending flange 43, which has bearing against the inner face of the flange 36 of its body-casing, and the lower end of each yielding or spring-controlled gripping member 38 is located in its body-casing between the back 35 and the loweraipwardly-extending flange 37 of the.bodycasing, as is also shown to the left in Fig. 3. Thus while the gripping members 38 of the chain of grippers carried by the casing A are unyielding the opposing gripping members of the chain of grippers carried by the opposing casing A are yielding and admit of the chains of grippers firmly gripping large as well as small stalks, and as the chain of grippers travels in direction of the rear at said inner leads and the casings A and A are inclined upward and rearward as the grippers proceed rearward at their inner leads they draw the stalks and accompanying roots from the ground and deposit them on the surface of the ground at the rear of the machine.

Each box-casing 35 of a gripper is provided with an upper horizontal bar 44 and a lower horizontal bar 44a. These bars extend beyond the ends of the body-sections of the grippers and constitute links, and the bars 44 and 44a of the grippers are so placed thereon that the extending portions of the bars or body-sections of one gripper will overlie the corresponding portions of the bars of the next body-section of a gripper. These overlying portions of the said bars 44 and 44L are pivotally connected by vertical pins 45, and these pins extend up beyond the upper faces of the body-sections of the grippers and are provided at their upper ends with frictionrollers 46, which rollers enter the channels 16 in the casings A and A at the inner sides of the said casings and have bearing against the flange 14 and the opposing bracket 15 of a casing, as is shown in Fig. 3. At the outer leads of the chains of grippers thus formed the friction-rollers 46 travel in engagement withthe outer faces of the brackets 17, as is also shown in Fig. 3. Thus it will beobserved. that the chains of grippers move with the least possible amount of friction, since the lower friction-rollers 23 and 23a support or have engagement with the bottom portions of the body-casings of the grippers, the hori- Zontal friction-rollers 2() have bearing against the back sections of the body portions of the grippers, and the upper friction-rollers 46,

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vcarried by the body portions of the grippers, I have bearing against suitable supports provided throughout the length of the casings.

Each of the main casings A and A is proi vided at its upper outer side edge, between its center and its rear, with bearing 47, and in these bearings the horizontal foot members of an arched axle 48 are mounted, so that the said casings A and A are pivotally supported on the said axle, and at the ends of the axle 48 supporting-wheels 49 aremounted to turn, the said supporting-wheels heing provided, preferably, with wide tires. The i` main casings A and A are adjustably connected by means of arched standards 50 and 51, the standard 50 being located near the rear of the casings and the standard 51 near the forward ends of the same. The foot portions of these standards 50 and 51 are secured to the top portions of the casings by means of bolts 52, passed through slots in the said footsections of the said standards, so that the main casings A and A may be adjusted to or from each other to adapt the machine for pulling either small or large stalks. A V- shaped pole 53 is located above the axle 48, the said pole being provided 'with hangers 53a, through which theupper portion of the axle loosely passes, and the forward end of the V-shaped pole is adapted for attachment to the neck-yoke of the team employed to pull the machine.

A horizontal frame 54 is secured to the pole 53 at the rear, and the said frame 54 supports the drivers seat 55, which is at the rear of the axle, asis shown in Figs. l and 2.

Bearings 56 extend rearward from the upper portion of the rear connecting-standard 50, and in the said bearings 56 a drive-shaft 57 is mounted to revolve. The said driveshaft is provided with bevel-gears 58, which bevel-gears mesh with corresponding gears 59, located upon the upper ends of the rear shafts 34, carrying the sprocket-wheels 33, located. in the casings, and the upper ends of the shafts 34 are mounted to turn in bearings 59, which extend from the upper portion of the rear standard 50, as is shown in Fig. 1.

A sprocket-wheel 60 is loosely mounted on each end of the drive-shaft 57, and the hub of each sprocket-wheel 60 at its inner end is provided with clutch-teeth 61. The sprocket- Wheels 60 are connected by a chain belt 62 with sprocket-wheels 63, secured to the hub portions of the supporting-wheels 49. Clutches 64 are mounted to slide on the end portions of the shaft 57 and turn therewith, which clutches are adapted for engagement with the clutch-teeth of the hubs of the sprocket-wheels 60, and when such engagement is made the shaft 57 is turned as the machine is advanced.

A shifting rod 65 is mounted for end movement parallel with the shaft 57, and this shifting rod 65 is provided with a fork at its outer end engaging with the left-hand clutch 64. The inner end ofl the shifting rod 65 is pivotally attached to a lever 66, which is fulcrumed upon an extension from the upper portion of the rear connecting-standard 50, and a link 67 is pivoted also to this lever and to one end of a second shifting rod 68, located at the right-hand side of the machine, which rod 68 has a fork thereon for engagement with the right-hand clutch 64. Thus by moving the lever 66 in one direction the clutches are simultaneously disengaged from the hubs of the sprocket-wheels 6() and by moving the lever 66 is an opposite direction the clutches are simultaneously brought into driving connection with the said sprocketwheels, as is shown in Fig. 2.

The forward ends of the main casings A and A may be raised and lowered, as may be required by the character of the ground, by means of a lever 69, which is fulcrumed upon preferably the right-hand member of the V- shaped pole 53, and the said lever is provided with a suitable thumb-latch for engagement with the rack 70, also carried by the said pole. A link 72 is pivotally connected with the lever 69 and with one end of an elbow-lever 73, fulcrumed upon the right-hand member of the V-shaped pole 53, and a second link 74 is pivotally attached to the other member of the elbow-lever 73 and to the forward connecting-standard 51.

The draft devices employed are as follows: A cross-bar 75 is secured to the members of the V-shaped pole 73, extending beyond its outer sides, and near the outer ends of these transverse bars 75 parallel links 76 extend downward, being pivotally connected with the said bar, as is best shown in Fig. 1, and the lower ends of the bars or links 76 receive between them the forward ends of single links 77, which single links are connected with the horizontal or spindle sections of the axle 48. A draft-bar 78 is received between the vertical links 76 of each bar, being adjustably attached thereto, and at the outer end of each draft-link 78 a swingletree 79 is usually connected.

The V-shaped pole 53 is usually strengthened at its rear by a cross-bar 52a. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2.)

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a pulling-machine, wheel-supported parallel casings having an upward and rearward inclination, endless chains of gri pers carried by th e casings, the grippers o'l t ie inner leads of opposing chains being in close relation to each other, the grippers of one chain being rigid and the grippers of the other chain yielding, and meansfor rotating the said chains of grippers from the axle of the machine.

2. 1n a pulling-machine, wheel-supported IOC casings having an upward and rearward inclination, endless chains or grippers mounted to revolve around said casings, the gripper-s on 'the inner leads oi opposing chains being in close relation to each other, Athe grippcrs of one chain being of rigid construction and the grippers of the opposing chain being springcontrolled and provided. with play in their supports.

3. In a pulling-machine, independent wlieel-supported casings provided with shoes at their forward ends, the said casings having upward and rearward inclination, adjustable standards connecting the said casings, a chain of grippers mounted to revolve around each casing, passing through the said casings at the rear of and at a point adjacent to the slices, the grippers of one chain being of rigid construction, and the grippers of the opposing chain oi yielding construction, roller-guides -for the chains, and means for simultaneously driving the chain of grippers of both casings from the axle of the machine.

4. In a pulling-machine, independent casings, an arched axle from which said casings are pivotally suspended, a mechanism for simultaneously raising and lowering the -forward portions of the said casings, a chain of grippers mounted to revolve around each casing, the grippers at the inner leads oli the chains being in close relation to each other, the grippers of one chain being of rigid construction and the grippers of the opposing chain of yielding construction, and a driving mechanism for the two chains ol" grippers, which driving mechanism is driven from the axle of the machine.

5. In a ullingmachine, independent wheel-supported casings, arched standards adjustably connecting the said casings, a chain of grippers mounted to revolve around the said` casings, the grippers of the inner leads of the said chains being in close relation to each other, means ilor driving the said chains of grippers from the axle of the machine, an adjusting device for the forward l i l end portions of the said casings, and a clutch mechanism for controlling the driving means for the said chains of grippers.

6. In a pulling-machine, wheel-supported parallel and spaced casings, means for raising and lowering the forward ends of the said casings, chains of grippers mounted to revolve around the said casings, driving-sprockets for the said chains located within. the casings, one of which sprockets in each casing is adlinstable, the grippers oi the inner leads of the said chains being in close relation to each other, means for adjustably connecting the said casings, and a driving mechanism operated from the said axle and operatively connected with one of the driving-sprockets of cach chain ol grippers.

7. In a pulling-machine, the combination with op posing and spaced casings, an arched axle from which the said casings are suspended, said casings having an upward and a rearward inclination, driving-sprockets located within the said casings, one of which is adjustable in each casing, a chain oic grippers carried by the said driving-sprockets and arranged to travel around the said casings, the grippers of the inner leads of the said casings being in close relation to each other and the grippers on one chain being of rigid construction and the grippers of the opposing chain of a yielding construction, a drive-shaft, a gear connection between the drive-shaft and one of the said sprocket-wheels, a driving connection between the axle and the driveshaft, clutches mounted on the said shaft, means lor controlling the said clutches, and an adjusting device for the forward ends of the casings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CULLEN ROGERS SMITH.

Witnesses:

MORGAN RECTOR, II. C. IVEY. 

